Unite to call for vote on winter fuel payments at Labour conference

Unite, one of the union members supporting Labour, will try to force a vote at the party conference in Liverpool on reversing government cuts to the winter fuel surcharge.

The union has tabled a motion calling for “a vision in which pensioners are not the first to face a new wave of cuts”.

The government is also being called upon to introduce a wealth tax and end self-imposed rules that prevent borrowing to invest.

Despite criticism from opposition parties and discontent among his own MPs, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his cut in winter fuel payments, saying “difficult decisions” are needed “to stabilise the economy”.

He also said the impact on the 10 million pensioners affected will be softened by a 4% increase in the state pension, which will come into effect in April next year.

From this autumn, older people in England and Wales who are not in receipt of a pension or other means-tested benefit will no longer receive benefits worth £100-£300.

Unite’s motion states that “workers and communities voted for change – a better future, not just better management and no cuts to the winter fuel allowance”.

It adds that the country should not “fall back into failed austerity measures”.

Mick Whelan, chairman of the train drivers’ union Aslef and president of the Labour-backed union, said he would vote against the cut.

In conversation with Nick Robinson about political thinking, He said the unions would ask the government to “change their mind”.

Asked about the relationship between unions and government, he said: “There will be times when we applaud… and there will be other times when, as usual, we will be steadfast but critical friends.”

Unite is confident its motion will be put to a vote at the Labour Party’s annual conference, which kicks off in Liverpool on Sunday 22 September.

According to the rules of the conference, delegates are allowed to vote on the issues they wish to discuss. Members of the Conference Arrangements Committee, delegates and party staff then agree on the wording of a final motion to be voted on.

The vote would not be binding, but a result critical of government policy could embarrass the party leadership.

Unite traditionally supports Labour, but has been highly critical of Sir Keir’s leadership. Last year, the party’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, warned that there were “no blank cheques”.

In 2019, when Jeremy Corbyn was leader, the union donated £3m to Labour. This year, it gave nothing to the central party’s campaign.

The union also refused to sign the party’s election manifesto, which states that it does not go far enough in protecting workers’ rights and jobs in the oil and gas industry.

Labour’s annual conference is the first since the party’s landslide victory in the general election in July.